Entertainment News

Robin Roberts comes out on Facebook

The longtime ABC news anchor, 53, addressed her sexuality publicly for the first time, naming girlfriend Amber Laign in a reflective post on her Facebook page.

"I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together," she wrote, discussing the anniversary of her bone marrow transplant.

One year ago Sunday, Roberts reached the 100 day mark following the risky procedure to treat myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder (in 2007 she was diagonosed with breast cancer and after treatment went into remission). Her sister, who she also thanked in the post, was her donor.

Roberts has been out to friends, family and co-workers for years, but this is the first time she's publicly identified herself as gay.

Laign, who has been Roberts partner for 10 years, is a licensed massage therapist with a private practice in New York specializing in patients dealing with injury.

Roberts' Sunday social media post, which had already received over 20.000 likes in just a few hours, featured words of inspiration as well.

"Flashback 12/29/12....Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today..when I reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant...and KJ was finally allowed to come back home.

Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: 'If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.'

At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude," she wrote before wishing her followers a "Healthy and Happy New Year."

"GMA" issued a statement of support later in the day, saying, "We love Robin and Amber, who we have all known for a long time. We were so touched by her Facebook message today and so thankful for all the loving support she has in her life."